Reply to ASK-AN-EARTH-SCIENTIST

Subject: Seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

In Australia, are the winter months the same as the winter months
in the Northern Hemisphere? In other words, up here we say
"I'll be glad when summer gets here and the weather warms
up." Do they, on the other hand say "I'll be glad when
winter is here and the weather warms up." Do they call our winter, winter?
Or do they call it summer?

Actually, the names for the hot season (summer) and cold
season (winter) apply the same way in the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. What is different is when those seasons occur on
the Jovian Calendar. Our northern winter is in Dec, Jan and Feb,
whereas the southern winter is in June, July, and August. Each of
our summers is 6 months away from our winters in our
respective hemispheres. In cold places
in either hemisphere (which thankfully doesn't include Hawaii)
people might say: "I'll be glad when summer gets here and the
weather warms up". The difference is that in the North people might
say "I am dreading a cold January" whereas in the South you might
say "I am looking forward to a warm January".